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How much difference will a phono stage upgrade make?

For the past couple of years I’ve slowly been upgrading my audio equipment. I currently have a Primaluna Dialogue Premium HP integrated amplifier, an EAT C-Sharp TT with an Ortofon Quintet Black MC cartridge, and Tannoy Revolution XT 8F speakers. The weak link at this point, it would seem, is my phono stage, which is a Pro-Ject Tube Box DS. All things considered, my system sounds really good to my ears, but I can’t help but wonder what a phono stage upgrade would bring to the table. I’m looking at the Manley Chinook Special Edition MK II, which is a big step up in terms of cost, but I wonder how much better it will actually sound. Has anybody made a similar upgrade, and was there a marked uptick in sound quality?
12hz
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,412 posts
 

The last time I heard an upright bass (being played by Todd Phillips, an old friend from San Jose. He's worked with David Grisman, Tony Rice, Jerry Douglas, Joan Baez, Ricky Skaggs, Del McCoury, Stephane Grapelli, Taj Mahal, too many others to list), the 19th Century German instrument was about four feet away from my bass drum. A little further away were a pair of acoustic guitars and a mandolin. I have played many times with acoustic piano, Blues harp, fiddle, pedal steel guitar, tenor and baritone saxes, trumpet, and many vocalists.

Yes, I am well aware of the sound of acoustic instruments. "In spite" of that, I like tubes ;-). I also like the sound of my solid state pieces (SACD player, power amps, First Watt x/o, Revox and Nakamichi tape recorders, Mac tuner, Stax headphone amp, a bunch of others). Any other suggestions Raul?

lohanimal
659 posts
 
The op’s question is not so much is something better than the Manley - but if it will be a worthwhile and significant upgrade. IMHO when you have a jump in the price of a component you can and ought to expect a jump in sound quality as well - it may expose weaknesses elsewhere - and that’s a slippery road down (or is it up) the upgrade path. 
Perhaps you ought to ponder this. I have read review after review saying x is better than anything twice the price - yet at the next price point up they same the same thing about y - reviewers nonsense. In my experience a well matched more expensive is almost invariably better than a cheaper well matched component in a given set up - cables (in my set up) are the exception. 
So try and get a home audition and try the Manley out - try a few others and don’t get obsessed with topology and circuit - get what sounds good to you.
tzh21y
1,654 posts
 
I think one of the best values in phonostages is the Pass Labs Xono.  It is a very underrated unit.  Works great with MC and MM cartridges and has a lot of flexibility when it comes to loading.  Fremer recently posted about this unit on his website Analog Planet.  He actaully said he believed it to be one of the best at the time.  It's a great unit and Pass has great support.
johnss
564 posts
 
12hz, before you start dropping coin on a new phono stage, you may want to look at the load resistors in your current model. Replace them with Vishay foils and you will be shocked at the reduction in noise, and improvement in low level detail without changing the frequency balance.

would agree with photon46, spending a lot more does not mean better. Have dropped 6K on a phono stage only to find out it was not as good as what I had.

the EAR 834s (real and clones) are also really good.

J

atisvt99
18 posts
 
@12hz - it's been 6 months now, did you end up with the Chinook? If so, how are you liking it over your previous stage?

Also, was curious if you gave any thought to one of the E-Glo stages from EAT - since you could then share their Linear Power Supply for the phono stage with your C-Sharp? I'm currently considering this setup myself, as I also have the C-Sharp...

Thanks
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